Henry James Hubble started out as a photographer, tobacconist and seller of ‘fancy goods’ in Brasted in 1902, but went on to start a business as a bicycle manufacturer and repairer. In 1906 he and his wife moved the business to the former ‘Fountain Coffee Tavern’ in Westerham, where they provided rudimentary garage repairs for cycles ...
Reference: WH0009
This steam railmotor number 3 from Kitson of Leeds was introduced to the branch in April 1906, and seen here waiting at Westerham. In conjunction with the introduction of the railmotor, an unstaffed halt was built at Chevening accessed from the roadbridge by a steep flight of steps. Chevening halt had a short platform but ...
Reference: WH0112
6th Jan 1908, from the Harry Streatfeild collection. Note that today’s Market Square was known as the High Street at that time.
Reference: WH0085
Dec 9 1872 saw the opening of a reading room ‘for the free use of working men’ at the Public Hall in the High Street, initiated by the patroness, Mrs Lucy Deane Streatfeild. By the following year, ‘The Westerham Recreation and Sports Club’ was held there most evenings from 7 until 10 whenever the Hall ...
Reference: 0067
Geoff Hoath “…when I was very small they used to have a horse-drawn tender that was kept in the old fire station in Post Office yard, and the horses were kept down at the market field. My grandfather was superintendent of the brigade and grandmother had one of the fire-bells. If anyone came saying there ...
Reference: WH0942
Hookers Almanack was the brainchild of Charles Hooker, printer and stationer. The first edition was produced in 1864, funded by those who advertised their trade or business within the directory, it offered a veritable who’s who of the district, listing all churches, meeting places and schools, and Companies such as the South Eastern and Chatham ...
Reference: WH0976
…also listed were the postal services, the Clubs and Societies and their officials…
Reference: WH0984
…Private Residents of the town and Commercial and Retail trades…
Reference: WH0985
…more retailers and trades…
Reference: WH0986
During the 1900s Westerham held an annual fair day on May 3 which was initially held on the Green, but moved to market field some time after 1910. The market day would include swings, roundabouts and stalls, but would also be a day of livestock trade. In 1907 Hookers Almanack ‘Epitome of Events’ records: ‘3 May ...
Reference: WH0661
…the final retailers and trades, and the start of advertisements which funded the production of the Almanack. Also included in each edition was the ‘Epitome of Events’ for the year just completed, which was the only form of local news in brief until 1882 when Hooker launched the ‘Westerham Herald’ as a monthly newspaper. What a ...
Reference: WH0987
The position of the house raised on the bluff of a small valley was utilised to advantage by the landscape gardener Edward Milner. No landscape plans by Milner survive, but evidence comes from the Estate particulars of 1884 which mention him.
Reference: WH1008
This view shows the central conservatory and the parterre to the south side of the house.
Reference: WH1020
The Gospel Hall was the pitch-roofed building next to the lamp post on the left of the High Street, beyond the horse and cart. It is not known why it ceased to be used as a place of non-conformist worship, but by about 1928 it was gone. This may have coincided with an expansion of ...
Reference: WH1073
This photograph, taken around 1908, shows the hall’s close proximity to the kerb-edge. When the road was ‘metallised’ in the 1920s, as much width as could be provided was used, hence it was not surprising that the porch canopy had to be removed along with the gas lamp on the other side of the road. ...
Reference: WH1077
Built and opened with share capital in 1865, Westerham’s Public Hall (or Town Hall as it was often called) enjoyed a chequered existence as a public meeting place, never quite achieving the profit dreamed of by the shareholders. User groups would suddenly find themselves financially embarrassed and unable to pay their rent, and the charges ...
Reference: WH1079
